Cutter Gauthier cemented his status as the NHL’s hottest player on Thursday night, becoming the first Anaheim Ducks forward to score nine goals in a four-game span. The winger, who has been on an unstoppable tear including consecutive hat tricks, added a goal and an assist in the Ducks’ 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. His performance was historic, as he now possesses seven power-play goals in this short window, a feat matched only by Dave Andreychuk and Teemu Selanne in the modern era.
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The Ducks’ offensive explosion was not a one-man show, as Pavel Mintyukov and Beckett Sennecke each contributed two goals and an assist to secure the win. Goalie Laurent Brossoit anchored the defense with 23 saves, helping Anaheim snap a losing streak to improve their record to 8-7-1. This victory marks the Ducks’ third consecutive win, signaling a significant shift in momentum for the team as they look to climb the Western Conference standings.
For the Oilers, the loss drops them to 11-3-3 and ends their winning streak, though Connor McDavid continued his remarkable individual campaign. McDavid recorded three assists, extending his season-opening points and assists streaks to 17 games and reaching an NHL-best 44 points. The game was also notable for Edmonton’s roster challenges, as fourth-string goalie Matt Tomkins made 16 saves in the absence of Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi, and Frederik Andersen, while the team became the first in NHL history to dress a full-time emergency backup goalie, Brett Epp.
Source: Yahoo Sports
